Agenda item

Claire White introduced the report (Item 8), which set out proposals for approval of the proposed criteria and budgets for additional funds for 2018/19. Claire White reported that the report had not changed since it was last viewed by the Schools’ Forum in October 2017. The only comments received as part of the consultation were in agreement with recommendation two concerning widening the criteria for primary schools in financial difficulty. Recommendations were set out on page 41 of the report.

The Chairman invited Members of the Schools’ Forum to vote on whether to agree the recommendations set out under section 2.1 of the report:

·           Removal of the Falling Rolls Fund from 2018/19.

·           Widening of the criteria for primary schools in financial difficulty to enable schools currently not in deficit to apply for funding towards meeting restructuring costs that were required to avoid a deficit.

·           A small amendment to the wording of the growth fund criteria to clarify that funding for an increase to the pupil admission number can only be if this increase was in response to basic need.

Patrick Mitchell proposed that the Schools’ Forum agree the recommendations outlined above and this was seconded by Keith Harvey. At the vote this motion was carried.

It was agreed that recommendations under section 2.2 should be separated out so that only primary schools considered approval of the Schools in Financial Difficulty Fund.

The Chairman invited Members of the Forum to vote on whether to approve the following budgets:

·         The Growth Fund (£205,000), and;

·         Schools with disproportionate Number of High Needs Pupils (£100,000)

David Ramsden proposed that the Schools’ Forum approve the budgets outlined above and this was seconded by Chris Davis. At the vote the motion was carried. 

The Chairman invited Primary School Members of the Forum to vote on whether to approve the following budget:

·         Schools in Financial Difficulty (£9.64 per pupil (approximately £120,000))

Keith Harvey proposed that the Schools’ Forum approve the budget outlined above and this was seconded by Anthony Gallagher. At the vote the motion was carried. 

RESOLVED that the budgets detailed under sections 2.1 and 2.2 of the report were approved by the Schools’ Forum.